$5,995 / set
H 28 in W 23 in D 27 in
Kai Kristiansen No 121 Mid Century Paper Knife Teak Lounge Chairs, Pair
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Kai Kristiansen No 121 mid century paper knife teak lounge chairs - pair Each chair measures: 23
Upholstery, Teak
$3,290
H 29.14 in W 25.2 in D 28.75 in
Model 121 Paper knife easy chair by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Ranst, VAN
A ‘Model 121’ easy chair, designed by Kai Kristiansen in 1963 and made by Magnus Olesen in Denmark
Teak
$7,003
H 31.11 in W 66.15 in D 29.14 in
Danish Design Reupholstered Paper Knife Sofa Model 121 by Kai Kristiansen, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Breda, Netherlands
‘Paperknife’ couch designed in the 1950s by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark. This is a 3-seat model
Wool, Teak
$3,595
H 27 in W 63 in D 21 in
Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen Mid Century No 121 Paper Knife Teak Sofa
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen mid century No 121 Paper Knife Teak Sofa The sofa measures: 63
Upholstery, Teak
$9,517Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 27.56 in W 25.6 in D 28.35 in
Three Paper Knife Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Hellouw, NL
Set of three paper knife chairs, model 121, by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen from Denmark 1960s
Teak, Fabric
Kai Kristiansen Model 121 Teak Lounge Chair
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Panningen, N-Limburg
Super stylish Danish Modern Kai Kristiansen model 121 lounge chair. This iconic chair is otherwise
Fabric, Teak
Unavailable
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Paire de Fauteuils En Teck, Modèle 121, “Paper Knife” de Kai Kristiansen, 1956
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Paire de fauteuils design, modèle 121, ‘Paper Knife’, Kai Kristiansen pour Magnus Olesen, 1956
Leather, Teak
Unavailable
H 28.75 in W 25.2 in D 29.14 in
Teak Paper Knife Armchair, Model 121 by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The pair of teak 'Paperknife' armchairs, Model 121, designed by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen
Fabric, Teak
Unavailable
H 29.53 in W 64.97 in D 31.5 in
Danish Kai Kristiansen Paperknife Sofa Model 121 in Teak for Magnus Olesen, 1960
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful sofa by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark. This three-seat, model 121 (also
Fabric, Foam, Teak, Wood
Unavailable
H 27 in W 25 in D 29 in
1955 Kai Kristiansen Teak Model 121 Paper Knife Easy Chair Made in Denmark
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1950s Kai Kristansen teak “Paper Knife” easy chair for Magnus Olesen. Made in Denmark. New memory
Teak
Danish Armchair Model 121 by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Brescia, IT
Armchair from the Paper Knife series designed by A. Model 121 designed by Kai Kristiansen and
Fabric, Teak
Sold
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Model 121 Paper Knife Chair for Magnus Olesen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
An outstanding solid rosewood model 121 ‘Paperknife’ chair designed in 1955 by Kai Kristiansen
Rosewood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 27.56 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen Model 121 'Paperknife' Chair in Rosewood For Magnus Olesen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
One of Kai Kristiansens most recognizable and celebrated designs. The Paperknife chair designed in
Rosewood
Sold
H 27.56 in W 65.75 in D 27.56 in
Mid Century Danish Rosewood Model 121 Paper Knife Sofa By Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
recognised as one of Kai Kristiansens greatest designs. Featuring all new cushions covered in a very high
Rosewood
Sold
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Pair of Rosewood Model 121 Paper Knife Chairs by Kai Kristiansen, Kvadrat Fabric
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
Kai Kristiansen. Produced to a very high standard by Magnus Olesen, Denmark. The original cushions
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Model 121 Rosewood Lounge Chair, 1955
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Produced by Magnus Olesen Denmark. Constructed from Brazilian rosewood. New cushions covered in Kvadrat Divina wool felt.
Wool, Rosewood
Sold
H 32 in W 25 in D 33 in
A Pair of Danish Teak 'Paper Knife' Model 121 Lounge Chair by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A rare pair of 'Paper Knife' model 121 lounge chairs in teak and purple wool designed by Kai
Wool, Teak
Sold
H 27.56 in W 64.97 in D 29.53 in
Danish Kai Kristiansen Teak Sofa Model 121 Paperknife, circa 1960
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Elegant Paperknife sofa by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen - Denmark, 1960's. Excellent condition
Fabric, Wool, Teak
Sold
H 29.53 in W 64.97 in D 31.5 in
Danish Kai Kristiansen Paperknife Sofa Model 121 in Teak for Magnus Olesen, 1960
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Beautiful sofa by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark. This three-seat, model 121 (also
Fabric, Teak
Pair of "Paper Knife" Chairs by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kai Kristiansen Model 121 - Pair of 'Paper Knife' easy chairs in rosewood with grey wool. Maker
Rosewood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 25.01 in D 28.75 in
Pair Of Paper Knife Lounge Chairs By Kai Kristiansen Danish Mid Century
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Norwich, GB
Superb pair of Danish mid century teak ‘Paper Knife’ lounge chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen for
Teak, Wool, Bouclé
Pair of Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Paper Knife Lounge Chairs
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen. Model 121 'Paper Knife' lounge chairs. Early stamped editions constructed
Rosewood
Sold
H 27.5 in W 25 in D 28 in
Rare Pair of ‘Paper Knife’ Model 121 Lounge Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare Pair of ‘Paper Knife’ Model 121 Lounge Chairs by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark
Upholstery, Teak
Sold
H 15.75 in W 22.45 in D 16.93 in
1960's Kai Kristiansen Fully Restored Model 121 Paper Knife Rosewood Footstool
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Knebel, DK
1960's Kai Kristiansen Fully Restored Model 121 Rosewood Footstool by Magnus Olesen. The footstool
Rosewood
Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Chair in Teak for Magnus Olesen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kai Kristiansen Modell 121 paper knife easy chair in teak wood. Produced by Magnus Olesen. Can be
Teak
Pair of Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Chairs
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Kai Kristiansen paper knife (model 121) lounge, arm chairs, made by Magnus Olsen. This pair
Teak
Sold
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Lounge Chairs with Cognac Leather Cushions
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen Model 121 paper knife lounge chairs, 1955 Pair of lounge chairs produced by
Wool
Kai Kristiansen Teak Series 121 Sofa
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Baltimore, MD
Designed by Danish designer Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen in 1956, this three-cushion sofa was
Teak
Sold
H 29.14 in W 65.75 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen “Paper Knife” Sofa Model 121 Magnus Olesen, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Basel, CH
Kai Kristiansen “Paper Knife” sofa model 121 manufactured by Magnus Olesen in the 1960s in Denmark
Velvet, Rosewood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 25.2 in D 28.75 in
Kai Kristiansen 'Paperknife' Easy Chairs, aka ‘model 121’, Denmark, 1955
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Set of 2 lounge chairs, designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Magnus Olesen in Denmark
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in W 25.2 in D 29.93 in
Pair Of Paper Knife Lounge Chairs Kai Kristiansen Magnus Olesen 1962 Model 121
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Cambridge, GB
New Stock ✅ Pair of Paper Knife Lounge Chairs by Kai Kristiansen For Magnus Olesen 1962 Model 121
Other
Sold
H 28.35 in W 24.81 in D 29.53 in
Kai Kristiansen Set of 2 Easy Chairs 'Paperknife' or ‘Model 121’, Denmark, 1955
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Set of 2 easy chairs, designed by Kai Kristiansen and produced by Magnus Olesen in Denmark starting
Brass
Sold
H 30.32 in W 25.2 in D 31.89 in
Kai Kristiansen Teak Single Lounge Chair Paper Knife Chair, Denmark 1955
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
Nice Single Lounge Chair by Kai Kristiansen Mod. 121, Denmark 1955. Solid Teak Wood and original
Fabric, Teak
Vintage Danish Rosewood Paper Knife Model 121 Lounger by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Vancouver, BC
detail and a slatted backrest. Kristiansen's side profiles are always unique and stunning, and this chair
Rosewood
Sold
H 29.14 in W 25.2 in D 29.93 in
1950s Kai Kristiansen ‘Paper Knife’ 'Model 121' Fauteuils for Magnus Olesen
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Amstelveen, Noord
Danish designer Kai Kristiansen was born in 1929. Kai started with cabinetmaking before he went to
Fabric, Teak
Sold
H 29.53 in W 25.2 in D 27.17 in
Pair of 1960s Kai Kristiansen Mod. 121 Paper Knife Chairs in Teak Danish Modern
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Hamminkeln, DE
Beautiful pair of 1960s Kai Kristiansen mod. 121 teak paper knife easy chairs, renewed upholstery
Fabric, Teak
Scandinavian Modern Teak Sofa after Grete Jalk
By Grete Jalk, France & Daverkosen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Scandinavian modern teak sofa after Grete Jalk features stylish Mid-Century Modern design, iconic sculpted seat back, and rich vintage teak finish. Vintage upholstered cushions ...
Teak
$4,582
H 28.75 in W 65.75 in D 32.29 in
1960s Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife 3-Seater Teak Sofa in Leather , Denmark
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Praha, CZ
- Skelet in very good original condition - Leather pillows in good original conditions - Patinated leather
Leather, Teak
Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Lounge Chairs
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen Pair of 'Paper Knife' model 121 lounge chairs, 1955. Produced by Magnus Olesen, Denmark. New cushions upholstered in Kvadrat Hallingdal #103 wool fabric. Oth...
Wool
$9,694 / set
H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 25.2 in
Pair of Danish Design Paper Knife Lounge Chairs by Kai Kristiansen in Teak Black
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Rare pair of 'Paper Knife' model 121 lounge chairs in teak and black leather (faux) design by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen in 1955. Gorgeous organic design style sculpted in s...
Faux Leather, Teak
$2,908
H 29.14 in W 25.01 in D 29.93 in
Fully Restored Customizable Kai Kristiansen Teak Paper Knife Lounge Chair
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Knebel, DK
Fully restored Kai Kristiansen teak paper knife lounge chair custom repholstery Model 121 known as the paper knife due to the shape of the armrest was designed by Kai Kristiansen in...
Teak
$9,372
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen Paper Knife Vintage 1950s Rosewood Lounge Chair
By Magnus Olesen, Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen - Paper Knife Chair, 1955 The Model 121 lounge chair is widely considered one of Kai Kristiansen's finest works from a long and celebrated career. The chair, later n...
Wool, Rosewood
$18,204 / set
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 27.56 in
Kai Kristiansen Pair of Rosewood Paper Knife Lounge Chairs, 1950s
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in London, England
Kai Kristiansen Pair of paper knife model lounge chairs, 1955. Produced by Magnus Olesen, Denmark in rosewood. New cushions upholstered in soft grey wool fabric.
Wool, Rosewood
$5,287
H 30.71 in W 46.46 in D 31.5 in
Paper Knife Sofa by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark, 1956
By Kai Kristiansen, Magnus Olesen
Located in Barcelona, ES
Two seater Paper Knife sofa designed in 1956 by Kai Kristiansen for Magnus Olesen, Denmark. Teak frame upholstered with new wool fabric from Kvadrat.
Fabric, Teak
With a passion for math and engineering, Kai Kristiansen has created high-quality wood furniture for decades. Beginning in the 1950s, his coffee tables, chairs, modular shelving and other furnishings were made in the style that would become internationally renowned as Danish modern and boasted clean lines, perfected functionality and exacting craftsmanship.
Born in Denmark, Kristiansen trained in cabinetmaking before studying with Kaare Klint, often cited as the “father of modern Danish design,” at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. At just 26 years old, Kristiansen opened his own studio.
Kristiansen had his mid-century breakthrough in 1956 with the Chair #42, which he made with Schou Andersen. Unlike most other chairs at the time, Chair #42’s armrests, with their wealth of radical angles, were connected to the back rather than the front legs. This unconventional flourish makes the backrest appear as though it is floating in midair above the seat.
Kristiansen’s next innovation was a modular wall system in 1957 — three years ahead of Dieter Rams’s more famous 606 Universal Shelving System. Called the Reolsystem Wall Unit, produced by SB Feldballes Møbelfabrik, it’s also known as the FM Wall Unit as FM/Fornem Møbelkunst began producing it in the 1960s.
Kristiansen would go on to work with other leading Danish furniture manufacturers such as Magnus Olesen, Fritz Hansen and Vildbjerg Møbelfabrik, designing everything from chairs and desks to sideboards and cabinets, frequently in rosewood and teak. (The latter was a sought-after wood by Scandinavian modern designers.)
While many of Kristiansen’s timeless designs remain in production, such as his Paper Knife sofa, which was reintroduced by Miyazaki Chair Factory in 2008, and his 1950s Entré collection, which was relaunched with Great Dane Furniture in 2016, others are prized as vintage mid-century pieces.
Today, Kristiansen is still at work on new furniture with an expert eye to thoughtfully functional designs that are made to last.
Find a collection of vintage Kai Kristiansen furniture on 1stDibs.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.